New Liner “israel” Starts on First Voyage from New York Today

November 4, 1955

NEW YORK (Nov. 3)

New York newspapermen inspected the new Zim liner “Israel” at its berth in Brooklyn today as the ship was being made ready for its first New York to Haifa voyage. The 10,500-ton 501-foot liner sails Friday with a full complement of passengers. It has accommodations for 80 first-class and 233 tourist-class passengers and can carry 5,000 tons of cargo. With a sister ship, now being constructed, the Israel will maintain a regular three week sailing schedule between New York and Haifa commencing next year.

Gottlieb Hammer, president of the American-Israeli Shipping Company, representatives of Zim, told the newspapermen that the two ships were designed for Israel’s special requirements to carry immigrants, tourists and freight. He pointed out that Zim, in 10 years, had grown to the point where it now operates 240 ships with a gross tonnage of 120,000 and has some 1,500 officers and ratings. The ship was built in Germany under the reparations agreement and cost approximately $4.5 million.